Saving Cú Chulainn from turning in his grave, literally

meath | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Sunday August 14, 2005 13:40 by Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa 0863213755

Tara neglected whilst sites such as the Céide Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished

'That the scene of the final battle of Na Fianna, and the burial site of Cú Chulainn's remains is being dug up to facilitate a reroutable motorway is something which reflects badly on our respect for our origins.'

Excavations in the Tara Valley

I live a few short miles from the M3 site in the Tara Valley, and have been watching the works there on an almost daily basis since they began a number of months ago when the first excavator arrived to clear topsoil. That the scene of the final battle of Na Fianna, and the burial site of Cú Chulainn's remains is being dug up to facilitate a reroutable motorway is something which reflects badly on our respect for our origins.

Historically, Tara was more than a hill with a few mounds on it's peak. Lest it's importance be underestimated, Colum Cille caused a huge battle to be fought over Tara in which some 20,000 men died, near Sligo. In more recent times 500 Croppies died in the valley in 1798. And indeed, one of the 1798 men killed in the battle of Tara was chosen as the unknown pikeman for the memorial of Tulach an tSolais on Oulart Hill, Co. Wexford a number of years back.

In 1902, whilst on an excursion to Tara with 300 children, Maud Gonne hijacked a bonfire planned to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII by the local landlord. Campaigning at that time to stop the destruction of Tara by the British Israelites, Maud Gonne looked at the bonfire and "felt it would serve a better purpose if burnt in honour of an independent Ireland". She lit it and sang A Nation Once Again.

In Frank McDonald's article in the Irish Times on 27th November 2004, 'Bertie Ahern said he couldn't even see the hill from where he was standing on its route.' This ladish comment by our Taoiseach purposefully misses the point that Tara was a large settlement that stretched out along the valley in both directions towards Navan and Dunshaughlin, and that Tara stretched not alone over the hill but also the valley. Both were surrounded by defensive fortifications, evidenced by when Malachi defeated the Vikings at Tara in 980 to became High-King of Ireland, only to lose that title to Brian Boru some years later..

Tradition says that Hugh O'Neill in the 16th century, after his march to the south, encamped his army on the Rath or Fort of Ringlestown, to be assisted by the spirits of the mighty dead who dwelt within this rath.

And Daniel O'Connell held a monster meeting on Tara which attracted a crowd of more than 750,000, establishing the national significance of Tara once again.

Whilst Tara relies on its rich literature and associations, those that are insistent on this route rely on our ignorance of this same rich literature and associations. Whilst there is an almost unique abundance of history and lore associated with Tara, our Government has neglected it whilst sites such as the Céide Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished, been respectfully developed and protected. Hopefully Cú Chulainn may yet be saved from turning in his grave, literally, during the valley's excavation.